Spark-igniter system for explosion-engines.



No. 806,860. PA lENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

D. L. WINTERS SPARK IGNITBR SYSTEM FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MABJS. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 6, 1905. Serial No. 248,433.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID L. WINTERS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sparking-Igniter Systems for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electrical ignition systems for explosion-engines in,

which a series of battery-cells is used to supply the electromotive force of the system; and the present improvement has for its object to provide a simple and efficient structural ar rangement and combination of parts adapted to afford a ready and convenient regulation of the electromotive force derived from a plurality of primary battery-cells arranged in series and so that either the entire number of primary cells may be used to afford a very powerful sparking in the starting up of the engine or one or the other half of said cells may be used at succeeding periods during the combined normal running of the engine with a View to economy in the electromotive force and so that the electromotive force may be reversed at the same time the before-mentioned change from one half to the other half of the batterycells is made and With a view to equalize the wear on the ignition-points of the system, all as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my arrangement of the present systems adapted to afford a reversal of the current in making a change in the plurality of cells affording electromotive force to the system. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagram view illustrating a simpler arrangement of the system and in which no such reversal of the current takes place.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in both views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the igniter head or plug of an explosion-engine of any usual and suitable construction.

2 represents a plurality of primary batterycells, which in the present system are connected in series.

3, 4, and 5 are a series of fixed terminal studs or points arranged in separated and insulated relation and connected in manner hereinafter described to the aforesaid plurality of battery-cells.

6 and 7 are a pair of fixed terminal studs or points complementary to the terminal studs 3 and 4 aforesaid and formingthe terminals of that portion of the circuit of the system which embraces the igniter l and spark-coil 8, as shown in Fig. 1.

9 and 10 are a pair of movable switch-arms pivoted, respectively, to-the terminals 6 and 7, aforesaid, with their free ends adapted to move into contact with the respective terminal studs 3 and 4 or with the central terminal stud 5 to electrically connect the battery portion-with the spark-coil and igniter portion of the circuit of the present system, as hereinafter set forth in detail.

The scope of the present invention embraces either a disconnected arrangement of the said movable switch-arms 9 and 10, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that they may be operated independently, or a connected arrangement of the said arms by a connecting-handle 11, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so that a movement in unison will be imposed upon the said switch-arms in an adjusting movement of the same. The last-mentioned arrangement is preferable in cases where it is desired to reverse the direction of the current passing through the igniter portion of the circuit at the same time a change is made from one portion to another of the plurality of battery-cells and with a view to equalize the wear on the ignition-points.

In such construction (illustrated in Fig. 1) 12 and 13 are outwardly-extending conducting-wings on the respective terminal studs 3 and 4:, upon which the switch-arms have conductive bearing when shifted to one side or the other to regulate the current flowing through the system. 1 1 is a conducting-wire connecting the terminal stud 3 with one end of the plurality of battery-cells. 15 is a conducting-wire connecting the terminal stud 4: with the central part of the plurality of battery-cells- 16 is a conducting-wire connecting the terminal stud 5 with the other end of the plurality of battery-cells.

'With the special arrangement just described by ashifting of the switch-arms to the left contactis made with the terminal studs 3 and 5,and the entire electromotive force of the plurality of battery-cells is directed into the circuit of the system. By shifting the switch-arms to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 1 contact is made with the terminal studs 3 and 4:, and the electromotive force of one half of the plurality of battery-cells is directed into the circuit of the system, and by shifting said switch-arms to the right contact is made with the terminal studs 4 and 5, and the electromotive force of the other half of the plurality of battery-cells is directed into the circuit of the system, and at the same time a reversal of the direction of the carrent in said circuit is attained.

In the accompanying arrangement (illustrated in Fig. 2) 14: is a conducting-wire connecting the terminal stud 3 with one end of the plurality of battery-cells. 15 is a conducting-wire connecting the terminal stud L with the other end of the plurality of batterycells. 16 is a conducting-wire connecting the terminal stud 5 with the central part of the plurality of battery-cells.

Vith the described arrangement substantially the same operation and functions result as above described in connection with the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that no reversal of the current takes place, and the switch-arms are adjusted independently instead of having movement in unison.

In the first-described arrangement the terminal 4: is common to both poles of the plurality of battery-cells, while in the arrangement last described the terminal 5 is common to the poles of such cells.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electrical ignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of a plurality of battery-cells, a pair of switch-arms, a working circuit having terminal connections with the pair of switch-arms, each of said switch-arms having an individual contactpoint and a contact-point in common, and three connections between the plurality of battery cells and the aforesaid contact-points to divide the battery-cells into two portions which may be switched into the working circuit separately or together by means of the pair of switch-arms aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electricalignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of a plurality of battery-cells, a pair of switch-arms, a'

working circuit having terminal connections with the pair of switch-arms, eaclf of said switch arms having an individual contactpoint and a contact-pointin common, and three connections between the plurality of batterycells and the aforesaid contact-points to divide the battery-cells into two portions, said connections being adapted to change the direction of the current when changing from one portion to the other and so arranged that they may be switched into the working circuit separately or together by means of the pair of switch-arms aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrical ignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of a plurality of battery-cells, a pair of switch-arms connected together and moving in unison, a working circuit having terminal connections with the pair of switch-arms, each of said switcharms having an individual contact-point and a contact-point in common, and three connections between the plurality of battery-cells and the aforesaid contact-points to divide the battery-cells into two portions which may be switched into the working circuit separately or together by means of the pair of switcharms aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electrical ignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of a plurality of battery-cells, a pair of switch-arms connected together and moving in unison, a working circuit having terminal connections with the pair of switch-arms, each of said switcharms having an individual contact-point and a contact-point in common, and three connections between the plurality of battery-cells and the aforesaid contact-points to divide the battery-cells into two portions, said connections being adapted to change the direction of the current when changing from one portion to the other and so arranged that they may be switched into the working circuit separately or together by means of the pair of switch -arms aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electrical ignition system for explosion-engines, the combination of a plurality of battery-cells, a pair of switch-arms connected together and moving in unison, a working circuit having terminal connections with the pair of switch-arms, said switch-arms having a contact-point common to both and each having an individual contact-point with an extended wing or contact-surface of sufficient length to allow either switch to reach the common contact-point without breaking the circuit with the other switch, and three connections between the plurality of battery-cells and the aforesaid contact-points to divide the battery-cells into two portions which may be switched into the working circuit separately or together by means of the switch-arms aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electrical ignition system for explosion engines, the combination of a plurality of battery-cells, a pair of switch-arms connected together and moving in unison, a working circuit having terminal connections with the pair of switch-arms, said switch-arms having a contact-point common to both and each having an individual contact-point with an extended wing or contact-surface of sufficient length to allow either switch to reach the common contact-point without breaking the circuit with the other switch, and three connections between the plurality of battery-cells and the aforesaid contact-points to divide the battery-cells into two portions, said connections being adapted to change the direction Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 28th day of of the cnrreni:1 Whendehanging froim kone ptor- February, 1905.

tion to tie 0t or an so arrange t at t ey may be switched into the workingcircuit sepa- Y DAVID WINTERS 1 ra'tely or together by means of the pair of Witnesses:

switch-arms aforesaid, substantially as set ROBERT BURNS,

forth. M. H. HOLMES. 

